US6302748B1 - Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities - Google Patents

Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US6302748B1
US6302748B1 US09/470,489 US47048999A US6302748B1 US 6302748 B1 US6302748 B1 US 6302748B1 US 47048999 A US47048999 A US 47048999A US 6302748 B1 US6302748 B1 US 6302748B1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact receiving
contact
housing
receiving cavities
electrical connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/470,489
Inventor
Xiang Xu
XinHai Xiang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd filed Critical Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority to US09/470,489 priority Critical patent/US6302748B1/en
Assigned to HON HAI PRECISION IND. CO. LTD. reassignment HON HAI PRECISION IND. CO. LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: XIANG, XINHAI, XU, XIANG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6302748B1 publication Critical patent/US6302748B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/405—Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
    • H01R13/41—Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/722—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
    • H01R12/727—Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a connector having an improved housing with a plurality of reliable contact receiving cavities to securely receive a corresponding number of contacts therein.
  • a conventional connector 8 comprises an insulative housing 80 and a plurality of contacts 82 received in the housing 80 .
  • the housing defines a plurality of contact receiving cavities 84 each having a generally rectangular shape.
  • Each contact 82 comprises a first end 86 , a second end 88 and a retention portion 90 therebetween.
  • the retention portion 90 forms a pair of engaging flanges 92 which interferentially bias against a periphery of a corresponding contact receiving cavity 84 thereby securing the contact 82 in the housing 80 .
  • Similar electrical connectors are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,717,354 and 5,175,928.
  • the contact receiving cavities 84 are featureless, and therefore have no guiding means, when the contacts 82 are assembled into the cavities 84 , the contacts 82 may be positioned incorrectly. Therefore, when the connector 8 mates with a mating connector (not shown), the contacts 82 may be disengaged from the housing 80 by forces exerted by the terminals of the mating connector. Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts wherein the insulative housing comprises a plurality of improved contact receiving cavities to securely receive the plurality of contacts therein.
  • an electrical connector of the present invention comprises an insulative housing defining a number of contact receiving cavities and a same number of contacts respectively received in the contact receiving cavities.
  • the housing includes a number of blocks each extending into a corresponding contact receiving cavity, thereby defining two guiding grooves spaced by the corresponding block.
  • Each contact comprises two engaging flanges fixed in corresponding guiding grooves and being biased against corresponding block, thereby securing the contact in the corresponding contact receiving cavity.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 1A is a partial and enlarged perspective view of an insulative housing of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2A is a partial and enlarged view of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional electrical connector
  • FIG. 3A is a partial and enlarged view of FIG. 3 .
  • an electrical connector 1 of the present invention comprises an insulative housing 10 , a plurality of contacts 12 received in the housing 10 , a metallic shroud 14 enclosing a tongue portion 16 of the housing 10 and a pair of locking members 18 for retaining the connector 1 onto a circuit board 2 .
  • the housing 10 defines a plurality of contact receiving cavities 22 each of which further define a pair of guiding grooves 24 extending a distance into the housing 10 and being spaced by a block 26 in the housing 10 .
  • Each contact 12 comprises a mating portion 27 , an opposite mounting portion 28 and a retention portion 30 between the mating and the mounting portions 27 , 28 .
  • the retention portion 30 comprises a pair of engaging flanges 32 extending substantially higher than other portions of the contact 12 allowing them to interferentially fix with the sides of the housing 10 .
  • the contacts 12 are forwardly assembled into the contact receiving cavities 22 of the housing 10 with the mating portions 27 and the retention portions 30 received in the contact receiving cavities 22 .
  • the engaging flanges 32 of each contact 12 are fixedly received in corresponding guiding grooves 24 of the housing 10 and bias against the block 26 whereby the contacts 12 are reliably secured in the corresponding guiding grooves 24 .
  • each of the engaging flanges 32 is planar and has no crimples or arches thereon.
  • Each of the guiding grooves 24 has a dimension substantially equal to a thickness of the engaging flange 32 in a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. The dimension of the guiding groove 24 is so designed that the engaging flange 32 may be inserted into the guiding groove 24 by a certain insertion force and provides a required retention force to prevent disengagement of the contact from the contact receiving cavity 22 .
  • the contacts 12 are reliably and correctly arranged in the housing 10 .
  • the problems occurring in the prior art such as incorrect positioning of the contacts 12 in the housing 10 and disengagement of the contacts 12 from the housing 10 are overcome.
  • the guiding grooves 24 are more deeply recessed into the housing 10 from the corresponding contact receiving cavity 22 . Therefore, the engaging flanges 32 of the contact 12 must be higher than those of the conventional contact.
  • the block 26 extends into the contact receiving cavity 22 and the contact receiving cavity 22 has a smaller dimension, whereby the conventional contacts can be used with the present invention.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing defining a number of contact receiving cavities and a same number of contacts respectively received in the contact receiving cavities. The housing includes a number of blocks each extending into a corresponding contact receiving cavity, thereby defining two guiding grooves spaced by the corresponding block. Each contact comprises two engaging flanges fixed in corresponding guiding grooves and being biased to a corresponding block, thereby securing the contact in the corresponding contact receiving cavity.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a connector having an improved housing with a plurality of reliable contact receiving cavities to securely receive a corresponding number of contacts therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 3A, a conventional connector 8 comprises an insulative housing 80 and a plurality of contacts 82 received in the housing 80. The housing defines a plurality of contact receiving cavities 84 each having a generally rectangular shape. Each contact 82 comprises a first end 86, a second end 88 and a retention portion 90 therebetween. The retention portion 90 forms a pair of engaging flanges 92 which interferentially bias against a periphery of a corresponding contact receiving cavity 84 thereby securing the contact 82 in the housing 80. Similar electrical connectors are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,717,354 and 5,175,928.
However, since the contact receiving cavities 84 are featureless, and therefore have no guiding means, when the contacts 82 are assembled into the cavities 84, the contacts 82 may be positioned incorrectly. Therefore, when the connector 8 mates with a mating connector (not shown), the contacts 82 may be disengaged from the housing 80 by forces exerted by the terminals of the mating connector. Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts wherein the insulative housing comprises a plurality of improved contact receiving cavities to securely receive the plurality of contacts therein.
To fulfil the above object, an electrical connector of the present invention comprises an insulative housing defining a number of contact receiving cavities and a same number of contacts respectively received in the contact receiving cavities. The housing includes a number of blocks each extending into a corresponding contact receiving cavity, thereby defining two guiding grooves spaced by the corresponding block. Each contact comprises two engaging flanges fixed in corresponding guiding grooves and being biased against corresponding block, thereby securing the contact in the corresponding contact receiving cavity.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 1A is a partial and enlarged perspective view of an insulative housing of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2A is a partial and enlarged view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional electrical connector; and
FIG. 3A is a partial and enlarged view of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical connector 1 of the present invention comprises an insulative housing 10, a plurality of contacts 12 received in the housing 10, a metallic shroud 14 enclosing a tongue portion 16 of the housing 10 and a pair of locking members 18 for retaining the connector 1 onto a circuit board 2.
Also referring to FIG. 1A, the housing 10 defines a plurality of contact receiving cavities 22 each of which further define a pair of guiding grooves 24 extending a distance into the housing 10 and being spaced by a block 26 in the housing 10. Each contact 12 comprises a mating portion 27, an opposite mounting portion 28 and a retention portion 30 between the mating and the mounting portions 27, 28. The retention portion 30 comprises a pair of engaging flanges 32 extending substantially higher than other portions of the contact 12 allowing them to interferentially fix with the sides of the housing 10.
In assembly, also referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the contacts 12 are forwardly assembled into the contact receiving cavities 22 of the housing 10 with the mating portions 27 and the retention portions 30 received in the contact receiving cavities 22. The engaging flanges 32 of each contact 12 are fixedly received in corresponding guiding grooves 24 of the housing 10 and bias against the block 26 whereby the contacts 12 are reliably secured in the corresponding guiding grooves 24.
As clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 2A, each of the engaging flanges 32 is planar and has no crimples or arches thereon. Each of the guiding grooves 24 has a dimension substantially equal to a thickness of the engaging flange 32 in a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. The dimension of the guiding groove 24 is so designed that the engaging flange 32 may be inserted into the guiding groove 24 by a certain insertion force and provides a required retention force to prevent disengagement of the contact from the contact receiving cavity 22.
Because of the presence of the guiding grooves 24 in the housing 10, the contacts 12 are reliably and correctly arranged in the housing 10. The problems occurring in the prior art such as incorrect positioning of the contacts 12 in the housing 10 and disengagement of the contacts 12 from the housing 10 are overcome.
When closely comparing the contact receiving cavities 22 of the present invention, as described above, with those of the prior art, it is apparent that the guiding grooves 24 are more deeply recessed into the housing 10 from the corresponding contact receiving cavity 22. Therefore, the engaging flanges 32 of the contact 12 must be higher than those of the conventional contact. In an alternative embodiment, the block 26 extends into the contact receiving cavity 22 and the contact receiving cavity 22 has a smaller dimension, whereby the conventional contacts can be used with the present invention.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (1)

What is claimed is:
1. An electrical connector comprising:
an insulative housing defining a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending in a front-to-back direction, each contact receiving cavity defining a block extending in the front-to-back direction, a pair of guiding grooves positioned by two sides of the block in the contact receiving cavity; and
a plurality of contacts respectively received within the corresponding contact receiving cavities, each contact defining a U-shaped cross-section in a rear portion compliantly abutting against three side walls of the housing in the corresponding contact receiving cavity; wherein
a pair of engaging flanges of each of said contacts upwardly extending into the corresponding guiding grooves, respectively, and are biased to press against the block therebetween; and wherein
each of the engaging flanges is planar; and wherein
each of the guiding grooves has a dimension, measured in a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, substantially equal to a thickness of the engaging flange.
US09/470,489 1999-12-22 1999-12-22 Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities Expired - Fee Related US6302748B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/470,489 US6302748B1 (en) 1999-12-22 1999-12-22 Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/470,489 US6302748B1 (en) 1999-12-22 1999-12-22 Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US6302748B1 true US6302748B1 (en) 2001-10-16

Family

ID=23867823

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/470,489 Expired - Fee Related US6302748B1 (en) 1999-12-22 1999-12-22 Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US6302748B1 (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030236035A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2003-12-25 Keiji Kuroda Socket contact and socket connector
US6817906B2 (en) 2003-03-05 2004-11-16 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Electrical connector having indicating function
US20080032557A1 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Electric connector
US20120122354A1 (en) * 2010-11-16 2012-05-17 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Electrical connector with reliable terminal position
US20160036154A1 (en) * 2013-04-08 2016-02-04 Yazaki Corporation Connector
CN108352636A (en) * 2015-11-11 2018-07-31 菲尼克斯电气公司 Plug contacts
CN112713433A (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 东莞立讯技术有限公司 Electric connector base and electric connector
CN112713432A (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 东莞立讯技术有限公司 Terminal and electric connector

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5478263A (en) * 1992-06-03 1995-12-26 Yazaki Corporation Terminal for connector with engaging mechanism
US5516308A (en) * 1993-09-01 1996-05-14 Yazaki Corporation Connector equipped with comb-like terminal locking tool
US5567185A (en) * 1994-10-19 1996-10-22 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical connector and method of making same
US5609503A (en) * 1994-05-30 1997-03-11 Yazaki Corporation Double-lock type connector
US5664969A (en) * 1995-08-24 1997-09-09 Molex Incorporated Electrical connector with improved terminal positioning means

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5478263A (en) * 1992-06-03 1995-12-26 Yazaki Corporation Terminal for connector with engaging mechanism
US5516308A (en) * 1993-09-01 1996-05-14 Yazaki Corporation Connector equipped with comb-like terminal locking tool
US5609503A (en) * 1994-05-30 1997-03-11 Yazaki Corporation Double-lock type connector
US5567185A (en) * 1994-10-19 1996-10-22 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical connector and method of making same
US5664969A (en) * 1995-08-24 1997-09-09 Molex Incorporated Electrical connector with improved terminal positioning means

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030236035A1 (en) * 2002-06-20 2003-12-25 Keiji Kuroda Socket contact and socket connector
US7056158B2 (en) * 2002-06-20 2006-06-06 J.S.T. Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Socket contact and socket connector
US6817906B2 (en) 2003-03-05 2004-11-16 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Electrical connector having indicating function
US20080032557A1 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Electric connector
US7402087B2 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-07-22 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Electric connector
US8337259B2 (en) * 2010-11-16 2012-12-25 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Electrical connector with reliable terminal position
US20120122354A1 (en) * 2010-11-16 2012-05-17 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Electrical connector with reliable terminal position
US20160036154A1 (en) * 2013-04-08 2016-02-04 Yazaki Corporation Connector
US9455518B2 (en) * 2013-04-08 2016-09-27 Yazaki Corporation Connector having regulating section
CN108352636A (en) * 2015-11-11 2018-07-31 菲尼克斯电气公司 Plug contacts
US20180351271A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2018-12-06 Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Plug-in contact
US10665970B2 (en) * 2015-11-11 2020-05-26 Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Plug-in contact
CN112713433A (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 东莞立讯技术有限公司 Electric connector base and electric connector
CN112713432A (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 东莞立讯技术有限公司 Terminal and electric connector
US11158975B2 (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-10-26 Dongguan Luxshare Technologies Co., Ltd Base of electrical connector and electrical connector

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6869301B2 (en) Electrical connector
US6261132B1 (en) Header connector for future bus
USRE42075E1 (en) Electrical connector
US6585537B1 (en) Cable end connector with locking member
US6830472B1 (en) Cable end connector assembly having locking member
US4571017A (en) Electrical connector assembly
US7410391B2 (en) Stacked electrical connector assembly with stable mating characteristic
US6210218B1 (en) Electrical connector
US7726983B2 (en) Electrical connector mounted on edge of PCB
US6220898B1 (en) Audio jack having means for reliably securing terminals thereof
US7275964B2 (en) Electrical card connector
US20050287860A1 (en) Interlocking member for an electrical connector
US7491083B2 (en) Electrical connector assembly
US5080596A (en) Connector with contact spacer plate providing greater lateral force on rear contacts
US20070042643A1 (en) Electrical connector assembly having an improved inner shield
US20040058568A1 (en) Electrical connector assembly with complementary recess and projection interengagement
US6062892A (en) Electrical connector device
US6997756B2 (en) Connector terminal, a connector and a mounting method
US6210226B1 (en) Electrical connector having enhanced sideward impact resisting structure
US7618268B2 (en) Electrical connector with reliable mating frame mating with another connector
US6302748B1 (en) Electrical connector having an improved housing with reliable contact receiving cavities
US6162068A (en) Electrical connector assembly
US6890220B2 (en) Electrical connector assembly
US6808428B1 (en) Electrical connector with keying means
US6179629B1 (en) Electrical connector with improved contact tail aligning effectiveness

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: HON HAI PRECISION IND. CO. LTD., TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:XU, XIANG;XIANG, XINHAI;REEL/FRAME:010492/0309

Effective date: 19991203

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20091016